Wedge type rail anchor



Nov. 3, 1959 A. 1. APPLETON WEDGE TYPE RAIL ANCHOR Filed Jan. 27, 1956 III,

INVENTOR.

2,911,155 WEDGE TYPE RAIL ANCHOR Arthur I. Appleton, Northbrook, Ill. Application January 27, 1956, Serial No. 561,738 2 Claims. (Cl. 238 -317) The present invention relates to rail holding appliances and, more specifically, to a novel rail anchor for preventing longitudinal displacement of railroad rails under traflic.

The tendency of railroad rails to move longitudinally or creep ahead of a train in the same direction as the train is traveling has long been known. 'Heretofore, this problem has been approached by the use of rail anchors which grip or clamp the rail relative to the ties. to prevent such displacement. The necessity for gripping the rail at all times, including periods of rest and periods of trafhe has introduced complexity'and expense in construction of conventional rail anchors. I

One object of the inventionis to provide a novel rail anchor capable of opposing longitudinal rail displacement or creepage and which isquick andeasy to install and exceptionally reliable when placed .in service.

Another object is to provide a rail anchor of the character set forth above and which takes full advantage of existing rail bases, ties, and tie plates to efiect its intended purpose. I V

A further object is 'to provide a rail anchor of the foregoing type which is of simple, economical, and rugged construction and susceptible of installation by unskilled labor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome ap'parentas the following description proceeds,

taken together with'the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view showing a pair of rail anchors, each embodying the invention, installed on a railroad rail.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, vertical sectional View .t-aken in the planeof the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 and showing the rail, tie plate and tie inv er'tical section and the railanchors in elevation. v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the rail, tie'plate and tie and showing one of the major elements of the rail anchor as the same is being installed. v

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the rail anchor, rail base, tie and tie plate taken in the plane of the line 4 -4 in Fig. 2. d

Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 3 but showing a modified form of rail anchor'also embodying the invention.

While'the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments have been shown in the drawings and will be described below'in considerable detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specfic forms disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling thespirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the invention is there exemplified in an illustrative rail anchor in and in this instance two such anchors are shown, one on each side of the rail. Each anchor is adapted to engage a rail 11 and oppose longitudinal-creepage of the same. Although the anchors are shown in close proximity toeach other, it will be appreciated stalling the anchors along the United States Patent 0 I 2,911,155 Patented I Nov. 3, 1959 By way of background, it might be noted that rail 11 is of conventional form, comprising a head 12, web 14 and a flange or base 15. The rail is mounted on a tie plate 16, which, in turn, is mounted on a conventional wood cross tie 18. In this case, the tie plate 16 has a cambered seat 19 which carries the rail base 15, the seat 19 being situated between laterally spaced, upstanding ribs 20. Immediately adjacent the seat 19, the tie plate 16 is provided with the usual four substantially square holes 21 for receiving hold-down spikes (not shown) which engage the rail base. The plate 16 may also have additional holes 22 for spiking it directly to the tie independently of the rail hold-down spikes. While four spike holes 21 are customarily provided adjacent the rail, it is common practice to use only two spikes, one on each side of the rail base. This leaves two spike holes 21 normally vacant.

in conformity with objectives set forth earlier herein, each rail'anchor 10 is of simple, rugged construction and comprises two picces,namely, an anchor member 23 and a wedge member 2 2'. Each anchor is designed to operate by taking advantage of structural features already present in the rail and tie 'plate. Each anchor opposes" longitudinal creepage in one given direction and, in practice, it is desirable to install at least one pair of anchors 10 on a rail. The anchors are so oriented that one will be disposed to opposecreepage in one direction while the other will be disposed to oppose creepage in I spike hole 21 of the tie plate 15. The head 25 is relatively large and heavy compared to the head of a common rail spike. The stud preferably has a cross section comparable to that of the hole 21 but slightly smaller so that it has at least-some clearance. On the side adjacent the rail base, the stud 26 has a shoulder 28 which is adapted to opposewithdrawal of the stud from the spike hole 21 after the rail anchor has been installed. To facilitate installation and initial positioning of the rail anchor:10, the depending end of the stud 25 is tapered sharply on at least two opposed sides so as to give the stud a wedgelike point 29. The point 29 is adapted to penetrate the tie 18, permitting the rail anchor to be driven into position by striking the top of the head 25 with a sledge hammer. The point 29 is oflset with respect to the vertical axis of the stud 26 and is situated on the same side of such axis as the shoulder 28. Consequently, as the anchor member 23 is driven into the tie, the stud 26 and shoulder 28 are caused to drift laterally toward the rail so that the shoulder 28 will ultimately lie under the bottom edge of the tie plate. Driving of the anchor member into initial position is facilitated by the provision of a top surface 30 on the head and which is approximately perpendicular to'the longitudinal axis of the stud 26. W YT 1 In order to effect engagement between the rail anchor 10 and the rail 11, the head 25 of the anchor member is extended laterally with respect to the stud so as to overlie the rail base 15. -Such lateral extension defines a heavy lug 31 which, in the present instance, happens to be arcuate in shape. The lug 31 is of sufficient length to cover almost half of the width of the rail base 15 but terminates somewhat short of the rail 14. Due to the rail shapes and proportioning of the parts, engagement of the .rail base will take place. after the anchor member 2-3 isidriven into the tie 18 as far as it will go and the wedge member 24 is driven between the "lug 31- and the rail base 15..

-Tl1rning now to the wedge member 24, it will benoted that the same comprises a shank 32, :relatively long compared to the width of the lug, having an inclined ramp 34 at one end and a large flat head 35 at its opposite end. The upper surface of the shank 32 is tapered upwardly from the ramp 34 toward the head 35 but at an angle which is somewhat less than the taper of the ramp. The bottom surface of the wedge member 24 is in this instance generally flat in a lateral direction but is relieved in a longitudinal direction so as to define a slight clearance with the upper surface of the rail base between the ends of the wedge member. This clearance is greatest immediately adjacent the head 35, the underside of the Wedge member thence tapering perceptibly downward to define an acute angle with the outer face of the head 35. This angle, in turn, defines a biting edge 36 along the bottom of the head 35 and which is sharp enough to bite into the upper surface of the rail base 15 as the wedge member 24 is driven up tight under the lug 31.

Retrograde movement of the wedge member 24 after the same has been driven up tight is rigidly opposed by the use of a detent means interposed between the wedge member 24 and the lug 31. In the present instance, such means comprises a rib 37 extending along the underside of the lug 31 and a plurality of transverse grooves or gashes 38 situated in longitudinally spaced relation on the inclined upper surface of the wedge member 24.

Installation of the rail anchor may be effected by positioning the anchor member 23 with its stud extending into a vacant spike hole 21 and its lug 31 extending toward the rail. The member 23 is then driven into the tie 18 as far as it will go by striking the top of the head 35 with a sledge hammer. In the course of such action, the shoulder 28 is forced laterally and under the bottom surface of the tie plate 16 due to the offset of the point 29. The wedge member 24 is then inserted between the lug 31 and the upper surface of the rail base and driven tight by hammering on the head 35. By reason of the positive locking engagement between the shoulder 28 and the underside of the tie plate 16, and also the binding of the stud 26 in the hole 21 due to canting of the stud therein, the head 25 of the anchor member becomes rigidly fixed with respect to the tie plate 16 and the rail base 15. Consequently, as the wedge member 24 is driven between the lug 31 and the rail base 15, an increasing clamping pressure is applied to the upper surface of the rail base. By the same token, the sharp angular edge 36 at the head end of the wedge member 24 is pressed harder against the rail base. Under these conditions, longitudinal creepage of the rail in the same direction as the wedge member has been driven will be effectively opposed due to biting engagement between the sharp edge 36 and the upper surface of the rail base 15. As indicated earlier herein, it is desirable in practice to install at least two anchors 10 on a rail with their respective wedge members 24 oriented in opposite directions so that creepage of the rail in either direction will be opposed.

In the event that it should be necessary to remove the anchor 10 after the same has been installed, this may be accomplished by the use of a conventionalspike puller.

' For this purpose, the'head 25 is extended in a direction parallel to the rail so as to project well beyond the stud 26. By the same token, when completely installed there is sufficient space left between the underside 40 of the anchor head and the upper face of the tie plate 16 to insert the jaws of the spike puller therebetween. Application of force to the spike puller serves to place an elevating force on that portion of the head remote from the rail and, if sustained, causes the shoulder 28 to slip out from under the bottom of the tie plate 16. The inner edge of the shoulder may, of course, become somewhat deformed or mashed over in this process. Such a force is, of course, only the result of using the spike puller and is not encountered in normal operation of the anchor 10.

Turning now to Fig. 5, there is shown a slightly modified form of rail anchor 10a similar to the anchor 10 and also embodying the invention. Since the differences between the two reside in the anchor member 23a, only this member will now be discussed and a discussion of the wedge member will be omitted. The anchor member 23a differs from that of the anchor 10 in that the lateral shoulder 28 has been eliminated from stud 26a and the stud is provided with a pointedend 29a situated on its longitudinal axis. With such construction, the anchor member 23a depends for its rigidity upon canting of the stud 26a in the spike hole 21 of the tie plate and, to a lesser extent, upon the frictional forces between the stud 26a and the tie.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rail anchor for holding a rail against longitudinal creepage, said rail being mounted on a tie with a tie plate interposed between the rail base and the tie and having spike holes therein, said .r'ail anchor comprising, in combination, an anchor member formed by a stud depending from a head and terminating in an apex at its depending end, said head including a lug portion projecting laterally therefrom in a direction generally perpendicular to said stud and overlying substantially one-half the rail base when said stud is driven through one of the spike holes in the tie plate and into the tie, said stud including a lateral upwardly directed shoulder underlying said lug for engaging the undersurface of the tie plate, and a wedge member driveable between the said lug and the upper surface of the rail base and cooperable with said stud and lateral shoulder to clamp the rail, tie plate, and tie together and thereby restrain the rail against longitudinal creepage.

2. A rail anchor for holding a rail against longitudinal creepage, said rail being mounted on a tie with a tie plate interposed between the rail base and the tie and having spike holes therein, said rail anchor comprising, in combination, an anchor member formed by a stud depending from a head, said head including a lug portion projecting laterally therefrom in a direction generally perpendicular to said stud and overlying substantially one-half the rail base when said stud is driven through one of the spike holes in the tie plate and into the tie, said lug having a longitudinal rib on its underside, said stud including a lateral upwardly directed shoulder underlying said lug for engaging the undersurface of the tie plate, said stud further having a depending end portion terminating in an apex offset from the longitudinal axis of said stud in the direction of said lateral shoulder, and a wedge member driveable between the said lug and the upper surface of the rail base, said wedge having an inclined top surface with a series of transverse grooves therein for engaging said rib and preventing relative retrograde movement between said wedge and said lug, said wedge further having a sharp angular edge for biting into the upper surface of the rail base in opposition to longitudinal movement of the rail, said wedge and anchor member cooperating to clamp the rail, tie plate, and tie together and thereby restrain the rail against longitudinal creepage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 917,831 Zaleski Apr. 13, 1909 982,337 Wolfe Jan. 24, 1911 1,067,124 Maney July 8, 1913 1,229,926 Forbes et al. June 12, 1917 1,267,543 Harris May 28, 1918 1,268,464 Hudson June 4, 1918 1,551,503 McVicker Aug. 25, 1925 1,578,496 Cooper et al. Mar. 30, 1926 1,976,069 Hartman Oct. 9, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 218,948- Great Britain P.- July 17, 1924 

